Francisco de Avila
Encyclopedia
Francisco de Avila was a South American priest
and early student of native customs.
Curate
or vicar
in the province of Huarochiri of Peru
, later curate at Huánaco, finally Canon
of the Church of La Plata (now Sucre
), in Bolivia
. He was one of the most active investigators of Indian rites and customs of his time.
and their lore.
In 1611 Avila wrote a report on the Indians of Huánaco in eastern Peru, of which the unpublished manuscript is extant. These works contain apologetics on the destruction of fetishes and other objects of worship, for example by Pablo José Arriaga
.
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
and early student of native customs.
Curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
or vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
in the province of Huarochiri of Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, later curate at Huánaco, finally Canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of the Church of La Plata (now Sucre
Sucre
Sucre, also known historically as Charcas, La Plata and Chuquisaca is the constitutional capital of Bolivia and the capital of the department of Chuquisaca. Located in the south-central part of the country, Sucre lies at an elevation of 2750m...
), in Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
. He was one of the most active investigators of Indian rites and customs of his time.
Works
In 1608 he wrote a treatise of the "Errors, False Gods, and Other Superstitions of the Indians of the Provinces of Huarochiri, Mama, and Chaclla", of which only the first six chapters are known to exist and have been translated into English. It is a contribution to the knowledge of the Peruvian IndiansIndigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
and their lore.
In 1611 Avila wrote a report on the Indians of Huánaco in eastern Peru, of which the unpublished manuscript is extant. These works contain apologetics on the destruction of fetishes and other objects of worship, for example by Pablo José Arriaga
Pablo José Arriaga
Pablo José Arriaga or Pablo José Arriga was a Spanish Jesuit missionary in South America.-Life:He entered the Society of Jesus in 1579, and in 1585 went to Peru, where he was ordained...
.
Links
- AVILA, Francisco de, DIOSES Y HOMBRES DE HUAROCHIRÍ (fragmentos)